What is a Texture Analyzer?

Multiple pea/berry crush fixture

Historically focused on the food industry, texture analyzers test the crunchiness, guminess, adhesiveness, chewiness, and general texture of many smaller things from animal crackers to zucchini. Through time, texture analyzers have expanded their use to both research and development and quality control responsibilities. Additionally, they have branched out from food to other markets including cosmetics, small consumer packaged goods, pharmaceuticals and food packaging. But what does a texture analyzer actually do? Texture analyzers measure tensile strength and compressive strength of materials.

This may sound familiar, machines that measure force required to pull things or push things, sounds kind of like a universal testing machine. Texture analyzers are essentially very simple universal testing machines. Universal testing machines range in size and capability and can be large enough to test sections of transmission pipeline and small enough to accurately test single strands of hair. Universal testing machines also can be outfitted with a variety of grips, fixtures and various other accessories to accommodate near any testing situation desired. When compared to an average texture analyzer, a similarly sized universal testing machine is much more flexible, it is able to test higher strengths while still having class leading accuracy for more delicate material.

Today, many texture analyzers still resemble, in design and capability, the testing machines used in the food industry where they were first present. Universal testing machines are, as the name states, universal in nature and can be used in any and multiple circumstances and are generally more capable and flexible than their texture focused counterparts.